I usually set my battery operated alarm clock when I need to wake up by a certain time in the morning, but, last night, I decided to set my phone alarm as well, for the first time; both alarms went off without any problem, except, I couldn't figure out how to turn the phone alarm off for at least 5 minutes! Pressing "Stop" didn't seem to do anything. I put on my glasses, turned the phone on and off, tried pressing various buttons and icons, eventually found a "delete" button, and that worked! By which time I was definitely awake! LOL. I suppose I should have figured out how to set and stop the alarm, earlier, but, that wouldn't have been as exciting!
My appointment was at 10:30 a.m. I left the house at 10:00 a.m., hoping to reach the lab by 10:15 a.m., but, there was road construction on the way and I didn't get to the lab until 10:30 a.m.! I rushed in, passing a whole bunch of people out in the hallway, and checked in, using their auto check in kiosk. They have some kind of scrolling display screen set up in the waiting room, which shows the names of the patients who have checked in, and I looked at it to see how many people were ahead of me - they were still seeing people who had appointments at 9:30 a.m.! There were 30 people ahead of me! Maybe they were short staffed.
Their waiting room has a sign that only six people should be in the waiting room at one time and they have six chairs set up, with as much room between them as possible given the size of the room. But, there were at least double that number of people in the waiting room, standing and sitting on the floor. I went outside into the hallway to stand with the people who were waiting there. The building, being a medical building, requires one to wear a mask at all times while inside the building. I noticed that only about half the people in the hallway and inside the waiting room were wearing their masks properly. Some had no masks, others wore them under their chins or under their noses. I was glad that I was wearing one of my N95 masks!
After awhile, I got tired just standing. I went inside the waiting room a couple of times to see if there were any chairs available without any luck, but, on my third try, there was a chair available with a person standing in front of it, but, not sitting down. I asked if he was using the chair and he quickly moved aside to give me the seat. I thanked him and sat down, gratefully. And waited. From time to time, a lab tech would come out to call someone's name and tell people that only six people were allowed in the waiting room at one time, and people would leave, but, they'd come back or new people would come in to check in and stay.
Eventually, at 11:30 a.m., one hour after my appointment time, I was called in and my blood was drawn. Only four vials of blood was taken, this time. I remarked to the lab tech about how busy they were, saying I chose a Tuesday because they are usually so busy on a Monday, but, she said that they are now busy every day and they don't get a break.
Today's parking came to $3.00. I had enough $1 bills with me, so didn't need to go to the pharmacy to get change.
Then, I drove home, straight, without stopping to buy any food on the way. I had been fasting for the blood test, so, as soon as I came home, I had half a cup of iced coffee and then, prepared my brunch. I was inspired by June at Live and Learn, who had made French toast over the weekend; I, too, made French toast and bacon to have with it, with apple juice and fresh grapes. I used the last two regular slices of bread for the French toast. I now have some bread ends or heels to make a small bread pudding or some croutons.
I felt tired in the afternoon and rested a bit, replying to blog comments, etc., while I relaxed.
A short time later, the phone rang and it was neighbor T. She had fallen while trying to put away groceries that had been delivered, earlier, and the groceries were all over the floor. She had called her daughter and she was on her way over, but, could I please come over and pick up the groceries for her. I told her to give me a minute to put on a mask and my shoes and ran over to her house. T had unlocked the door for me and was sitting on a sofa, waiting. For a wonder, her dog didn't bark or growl at me as he usually does. I had taken one bag of groceries to the kitchen and had just picked up another bag, when her daughter K walked in and said she can take over. So, I went home.
I was watching news and making a cup of tea when K called. Apparently her mother had fallen again! This time, she had hurt herself and K had called the paramedics. She just wanted to alert me and to let me know that she was with her mother, so I won't get concerned if I happened to see the ambulance pull up. I'm glad K told me, because a few minutes later, I heard the fire trucks and ambulance pull up. T was given some pain medication and taken in the ambulance to the emergency room, according to K, who saw me outside (I had gone outside to collect the mail) and stopped by to let me know before following the ambulance to the hospital. Poor T. I hope she will recover well from her fall. Poor K, too, having to deal with it all (she has a brother, but he lives out of state and it is she who has to tend to their mother).
I received the rest of the items I had ordered for delivery from the drug store -one of my prescription medications, a supplement I take on doctor's orders, some lotion, and some balm (the bag of Epsom salts was delivered, yesterday). I also received another package that was sent to someone named "Gustavo" but, with my address on it! I have no idea who Gustavo is! I don't know why my address was used to send him something! It was delivered by a shipping company, not the postal service; if it had been the postal service, I would have returned it to the mail carrier and asked that it be returned to the sender. I might have to call the shipping company and ask them if someone can pick it up and return it to the sender as there's no one by that name at my house!
Dinner was two pieces of frozen battered fish that I baked in the toaster oven, along with the leftover sweet potato hash which I warmed up in the toaster oven with the fish, sauteed zucchini, and corn. I took a photo but, it turned out too blurred, so I deleted it!
After dinner, friend R called and we chatted for a bit. Later, I video chatted with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- N95 masks
- A safe drive to the lab and back
- Access to medical care and having health insurance
- I was able to help T the first time she fell, today
- My prescription was delivered
Today's joyful activity was video chatting with my daughter.
Plans for tomorrow include tending to the garden with M, vacuuming, and doing some paperwork.
How was your Tuesday? What are your plans for Wednesday?
Hopefully your neighbour T will be fine & able to come home soon. But more importantly they get to the cause of her falling down so much. From yesterday's post, Dancer looks like he approves of the new box; my fur girls LOVE boxes. How fun to be able to video chat with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. I called T's daughter this morning and left a message inquiring about her mother; she hasn't called me back. Maybe she's at the hospital with her mother or she's at work. Yes, I hope they find out why T keeps falling. She has a bad back and probably Parkinson's (although they haven't said anything about the latter, to me); she is supposed to use a cane when she's inside the house and a walker when she goes out, but, I don't know if she always uses her cane.
DeleteDancer loves a box or a laundry basket to get into.
My daughter and I video chat nightly for at least a few minutes to talk about our days and to say goodnight; it's one of the highlights of my day. :)
I hope T wasn't hurt too badly in her fall and they can figure out why she is falling so much. Waiting for the blood draw doesn't sound any fun. I hate waiting especially when I have to stand.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June; I, too, hope she's not too badly hurt. I called her daughter and left a message asking how her mother was; she hasn't called me back, yet. T is getting to a stage where she probably needs someone to assist her with day to day living.
DeleteWaiting for the blood draw wasn't too bad once I was able to sit down. I had my crossword puzzle book with me and kept myself amused while I waited. :) It was the standing that tired me out!
Your phone was making sure you got up :) That was not good at the hospital, I suppose people are frustrated by the restrictions and long wait but it is what it is with Covid rates so high. I've heard bread ends called heels before but we just call them the crusts, but i would love to join you for some bread and butter pudding, one of my favourites but hubby doesn't like it so I don't make it. I do hope your neighbour will be alright but she is in safe hands now. Yesterday my husband went for his diabetic retinopathy and he was done in super quick time even with having to wait twenty minutes for the eye drops to take effect. Fingers crossed there are no changes since his last test pre-pandemic, it's supposed to be done annually.
ReplyDeleteThe phone did keep me busy, yesterday, didn't it? :D
DeleteHaving to stand at the clinic made me tired, but, I was able to work on a crossword puzzle while seated and waiting. I do wish that people complied with the Covid rules when in a public place.
I like the ends of freshly baked bread, but, don't really care for the ends of regular sandwich bread for some reason. Maybe not crusty enough? Would you ever consider making some bread pudding just for yourself? I suppose you'd have to make something else for your husband to enjoy, as well, and that might be too much work.
I hope your husband's eye exam results show no change from his previous test; those annual exams are important, aren't they?
It sounds like quite an ordeal getting your blood test. I hope the results are good. I need to go tomorrow or Friday for mine, they don't make appointments here so I try to get there early morning, at 6:30 when they open. But even then there's a line waiting. I made Pad Thai last night, but will try the cabbage dish soon. I like your version with curry powder added. I'll try that, since I cannot get curry leaves here, fresh or dried. I've not tried dry, would they work? I can order those online.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind long waits if I'm seated; the standing tired me! Having that many improperly masked people around in an enclosed area also made me feel very uncomfortable. This clinic no longer takes walk-ins; they used to, but, after Covid, appointments are required.
DeletePad Thai sounds good! Dried curry leaves will work; I used to use dried curry leaves before I started growing my own curry leaf plants. :)
My gosh what a long time you had to wait, like you I'd have driven straight home to eat too! Your poor neighbour, hope she was alright.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long wait, wasn't it? I was OK once I could sit down to wait. It was the standing that made it so tiring.
DeleteThank you, Chris; I'm waiting to hear an update on my neighbor from her daughter. I hope she is recovering well from her fall.
Wow, Bless, you sure had a busy day! A lot of sacrifice just for your long wait for your appointment. And then you were such a good neighbor! Andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea. I've been unable to comment on your blog, but, I've been reading it. :)
DeleteWhat a busy day. Your experience at the lab must have been tiring. I think you need one of those folding stools that look are like a cane when not in use! Poor T, she really is having a tough time with falling. It was good that you could help with her groceries. I'm sure just having you there until her daughter arrived was more of a comfort to her than having them picked up.
ReplyDeleteWe had a trip out of town and I had a list of errands in suitable order for the route, except that DH suddenly remembered something he wanted that wasn't on the route! On the whole it all worked out well.
Yes, there was a lot happening, yesterday. I spoke with T's daughter, today and she said T has fractured her hip, but, doesn't require surgery. She will go to a rehab center for a week or two while she recovers. I hope she heals well.
DeleteSounds like you had your trip nicely organized, except for DH's errand! At least he remembered it while you were still out and about and able to get to it. :)
Gosh, that was not a good day for T! I hope there won't be any lasting effects! I bet your heart sank when after all the stress of the journey you discovered you had 30 people ahead of you and no seats! No wonder the waiting rooms get crowded - but at the very least people should observe the rules. I had to go to the hospital for a dental assessment and was dreading it because the last couple of times I have been, it's taken more than half an hour to find a parking space. So I left early and ... sod's law ... there were plenty of spaces! I parked and waited a few minutes before buying a parking ticket as you get 30 minutes' grace. Then the ticket machines were out of order and I had to walk around looking for one that worked! Even so, I was early for the appointment but I went in and found the waiting room almost empty, with just three masked people there. A few more came in without masks but the receptionist gave them one and insisted they wear it. In the end I was called about 10 mins after my appointed time, and, guess what, the dentist was sitting there with his mask under his nose! He adjusted it a few times but didn't press down the nose wire so it kept slipping and every time he touched it I thought "eugh". Luckily he used latex gloves to examine me but if he touched them with dirty hands, you wonder what the point was! By the time I came out there was still an hour left on my parking ticket (I had paid for two hours, thinking it likely that I would have a long wait) so I gave it to another patient. The tickets are supposed to be non-transferable but I made sure no security people were around. They must make a fortune on parking with patients and visitors either being made to wait around - or overpaying in case they have to!
ReplyDeleteNo, not a good day for T, but, it could have been worse, I suppose. She has fractured her hip, but, doesn't require surgery, and should recover completely from it.
DeleteYou had quite an adventure at the dentist's! But, you found parking and the waiting room wasn't too crowded. One would think that health care professionals would be more careful with masking, etc., but, apparently not! Glad the procedure didn't take as long as you had anticipated although you overspent on the parking. At most places here, you get or take a parking ticket at you enter and then pay when you leave, based on how long you've parked. But, at least you blessed someone else with the rest of the time left on your parking ticket!
Sorry to hear the news about T and sending wishes for a speedy recovery for her.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame you had a long wait for your appointment, especially with so many people in the same situation. I still don't understand why some people fail to wear their masks properly... there's no excuse for it after all this time is there? You must have been thankful to be wearing your own decent mask. I hope the results are good for you
Thank you, Eileen; I haven't received an update about T from her daughter, since Wednesday, but, I'll probably call her again after the weekend.
DeleteThe lab sent me a survey and I wrote about the crowded waiting room, the long wait, etc., and suggested they put up bigger signs than the ones they have about only 6 persons being allowed in the waiting room at one time and the masking requirements.
The lab test results were mostly good. I am to reduce the amount of one of the supplements I'm taking and keep an eye on a couple of other readings that were elevated, but, the cancer markers were normal and that was the main purpose of the lab test. :)
That was a log wait, and after you had gone to great lengths to get there in good time! At least it's done now and I hope you will get your results quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your neighbour. Will she be staying in the hospital? X
Yes, it was a long wait and I complained about it when the lab sent me a survey, afterwards! The results, however, were good for the most part. :)
DeleteI haven't spoken with my neighbor's daughter since last Wednesday, but, my understanding is that she will be taken to a rehab center as soon as they could find a bed for her and she will receive physical therapy until she is able to manage on her own.
Oh my - what a busy Tuesday you had. I need to read on and see how T is doing. I see in your comment responses that she fractured her hip. I hope poor T recovers well.
ReplyDeleteYour blood test took quite a while. I am hoping your results will be good.
I need to catch up with what you've been doing.
Yes, it was a busy day compared to most of my days, right now, wasn't it? Funny how something like a blood test was just one of those things I'd do before I'd go into work, etc., and now, it is the event of the day! LOL. Yes, the blood test results were mostly good, thank you. :)
DeleteAccording to T's daughter (I spoke with her yesterday), T is recovering in a convalescent home.